the man from glengarry-第7节

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from　a　circle　of　loving　friends　of　which　she　was　the　pride　and　joy；
to　this　home　in　the　forest。　　There；　isolated　from　all　congenial
companionship　with　her　own　kind；　deprived　of　all　the　luxuries　and
of　many　of　the　comforts　of　her　young　days；　and　of　the　mental
stimulus　of　that　contact　of　minds　without　which　few　can　maintain
intellectual　life；　she　gave　herself　without　stint　to　her　husband's
people；　with　never　a　thought　of　self…pity　or　self…praise。　　By　day
and　by　night　she　labored　for　her　husband　and　family　and　for　her
people；　for　she　thought　them　hers。　　She　taught　the　women　how　to
adorn　their　rude　homes；　gathered　them　into　Bible　classes　and　sewing
circles；　where　she　read　and　talked　and　wrought　and　prayed　with　them
till　they　grew　to　adore　her　as　a　saint；　and　to　trust　her　as　a
leader　and　friend；　and　to　be　a　little　like　her。　　And　not　the　women
only；　but　the　men；　too；　loved　and　trusted　her；　and　the　big　boys
found　it　easier　to　talk　to　the　minister's　wife　than　to　the　minister
or　to　any　of　his　session。　　She　made　her　own　and　her　children's
clothes；　collars；　hats；　and　caps；　her　husband's　shirts　and
neckties；　toiling　late　into　the　morning　hours；　and　all　without
frown　or　shadow　of　complaint；　and　indeed　without　suspicion　that　any
but　the　happiest　lot　was　hers；　or　that　she　was；　as　her　sisters
said；　〃just　buried　alive　in　the　backwoods。〃　　Not　she！　　She　lived　to
serve；　and　the　where　and　how　were　not　hers　to　determine。　　So；　with
bright　face　and　brave　heart；　she　met　her　days　and　faced　the　battle。
And　scores　of　women　and　men　are　living　better　and　braver　lives
because　they　had　her　for　their　minister's　wife。

But　the　day　had　been　long；　and　the　struggle　with　the　March　wind
pulls　hard　upon　the　strength；　and　outside　the　pines　were　crooning
softly；　and　gradually　the　brave　head　drooped　till　between　the
stitches　she　fell　asleep。　　But　not　for　many　minutes；　for　a　knock　at
the　kitchen　door　startled　her；　and　before　long　she　heard　Jessie's
voice　rise　wrathful。

〃Indeed；　I'll　do　no　such　thing。　　This　is　no　time　to　come　to　the
minister's　house。〃

For　answer　there　was　a　mumble　of　words。

〃Well；　then；　you　can　just　wait　until　morning。　　She　can　go　in　the
morning。〃

〃What　is　it；　Jessie？〃　　The　minister's　wife　came　into　the　kitchen。

〃Oh；　Ranald；　I'm　glad　to　see　you　back。　　Hughie　told　me　you　had
come。　　But　your　father　is　ill；　he　said。　　How　is　he？〃

Ranald　shook　hands　shyly；　feeling　much　ashamed　under　Jessie's　sharp
reproof。

〃Indeed；　it　was　Aunt　Kirsty　that　sent　me；〃　said　Ranald；
apologetically。

〃Then　she　ought　to　have　known　better；〃　said　Jessie；　sharply。

〃Never　mind；　Jessie。　　Ranald；　tell　me　about　your　father。〃

〃He　is　very　bad　indeed；　and　my　aunt　is　afraid　that〃　　The　boy's
lip　trembled。　　Then　he　went　on：　　〃And　she　thought　perhaps　you　might
have　some　medicine；　and〃

〃But　what　is　the　matter；　Ranald？〃

〃He　was　hurted　badand　he　is　not　right　wise　in　his　head。〃

〃But　how　was　he　hurt？〃

Ranald　hesitated。

〃I　was　not　thereI　am　thinking　it　was　something　that　struck　him。〃

〃Ah；　a　tree！　　But　where　did　the　tree　strike　him？〃

〃Here；〃　pointing　to　his　breast；　〃and　it　is　sore　in　his　breathing。〃

〃Well；　Ranald；　if　you　put　the　saddle　on　Pony；　I　shall　be　ready　in　a
minute。〃

Jessie　was　indignant。

〃You　will　not　stir　a　foot　this　night。　　You　will　send　some　medicine；
and　then　you　can　go　in　the　morning。〃

But　the　minister's　wife　heeded　her　not。

〃You　are　not　walking；　Ranald？〃

〃No；　I　have　the　colt。〃

〃Oh；　that's　splendid。　　We'll　have　a　fine　gallopthat　is；　if　the
moon　is　up。〃

〃Yes；　it　is　just　coming　up；〃　said　Ranald；　hurrying　away　to　the
stable　that　he　might　escape　Jessie's　wrath　and　get　the　pony　ready。

It　was　no　unusual　thing　for　the　minister　and　his　wife　to　be　called
upon　to　do　duty　for　doctor　and　nurse。　　The　doctor　was　twenty　miles
away。　　So　Mrs。　Murray　got　into　her　riding…habit；　threw　her　knitted
hood　over　her　head；　put　some　simple　medicines　into　her　hand…bag；
and　in　ten　minutes　was　waiting　for　Ranald　at　the　door。



CHAPTER　IV

THE　RIDE　FOR　LIFE


The　night　was　clear；　with　a　touch　of　frost　in　the　air；　yet　with　the
feeling　in　it　of　approaching　spring。　　A　dim　light　fell　over　the
forest　from　the　half…moon　and　the　stars；　and　seemed　to　fill　up　the
little　clearing　in　which　the　manse　stood；　with　a　weird　and
mysterious　radiance。　　Far　away　in　the　forest　the　long…drawn　howl　of
a　wolf　rose　and　fell；　and　in　a　moment　sharp　and　clear　came　an
answer　from　the　bush　just　at　hand。　　Mrs。　Murray　dreaded　the　wolves；
but　she　was　no　coward　and　scorned　to　show　fear。

〃The　wolves　are　out；　Ranald；〃　she　said；　carelessly；　as　Ranald　came
up　with　the　pony。

〃They　are　not　many；　I　think；〃　answered　the　boy　as　carelessly；　〃but
are　youdo　you　thinkperhaps　I　could　just　take　the　medicineand
you　will　come〃

〃Nonsense；　Ranald！　bring　up　the　pony。　　Do　you　think　I　have　lived
all　this　time　in　Indian　Lands　to　be　afraid　of　a　wolf？〃

〃Indeed；　you　are　not　afraid；　I　know　that　well！〃　　Ranald　shrank　from
laying　the　crime　of　being　afraid　at　the　door　of　the　minister's
wife；　whose　fearlessness　was　proverbial　in　the　community；　〃but
maybe〃　　The　truth　was；　Ranald　would　rather　be　alone　if　the　wolves
came　out。

But　Mrs。　Murray　was　in　the　saddle；　and　the　pony　was　impatient　to　be
off。

〃We　will　go　by　the　Camerons'　clearing；　and　then　take　their　wood
track。　　It　is　a　better　road；〃　said　Ranald；　after　they　had　got
through　the　big　gate。

〃Now；　Ranald；　you　think　I　am　afraid　of　the　swamp；　and　by　the
Camerons'　is　much　longer。〃

〃Indeed；　I　hear　them　say　that　you　are　not　afraid　of　theof
anything；〃　said　Ranald；　quickly；　〃but　this　road　is　better　for　the
horses。〃

〃Come　on；　then；　with　your　colt〃；　and　the　pony　darted　away　on　her
quick…springing　gallop；　followed　by　the　colt　going　with　a　long；
easy；　loping　stride。　　For　a　mile　they　kept　side　by　side　till　they
reached　the　Camerons'　lane；　when　Ranald　held　in　the　colt　and
allowed　the　pony　to　lead。　　As　they　passed　through　the　Camerons'
yard　the　big　black　dogs；　famous　bear…hunters；　came　baying　at　them。
The　pony　regarded　them　with　indifference；　but　the　colt　shied　and
plunged。

〃Whoa；　Liz！〃　　Liz　was　Ranald's　contraction　for　Lizette；　the　name　of
the　French　horse…trainer　and　breeder；　Jules　La　Rocque；　gave　to　her
mother；　who　in　her　day　was　queen　of　the　ice　at　L'Original　Christmas
races。

〃Be　quate；　Nigger；　will　you！〃　　The　dogs；　who　knew　Ranald　well；
ceased　their　clamor；　but　not　before　the　kitchen　door　opened　and　Don
Cameron　came　out。

Don　was　about　a　year　older　than　Ranald　and　was　his　friend　and
comrade。

〃It's　me；　Donand　Mrs。　Murray　there。〃

Don　gazed　speechless。

〃And　what〃　he　began。

〃Father　is　not　well。　　He　is　hurted；　and　Mrs。　Murray　is　going　to　see
him；　and　we　must　go。〃

Ranald　hurried　through　his　story；　impatient　to　get　on。

〃But　are　you　going　up　through　the　bush？〃　asked　Don。

〃Yes；　what　else；　Don？〃　asked　Mrs。　Murray。　　〃It　is　a　good　road；
isn't　it？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　I　suppose　it　is　good　enough；〃　said　Don；　doubtfully；　〃but
I　heard〃

〃We　will　come　out　at　our　own　clearing　at　the　back；　you　know；〃
Ranald　hurried　to　say；　giving　Don　a　kick。　　〃Whist；　man！　　She　is　set
upon　going。〃　　At　that　moment　away　off　toward　the　swamp；　which　they
were　avoiding；　the　long；　heart…chilling　cry　of　a　mother　wolf
quavered　on　the　still　night　air。　　In　spite　of　herself；　Mrs。　Murray
shivered；　and　the　boys　looked　at　each　other。

〃There　is　only　one；〃　said　Ranald　in　a　low　voice　to　Don；　but　they
both　knew　that　where　the　she　wolf　is　there　is　a　pack　not　far　off。
〃And　we　will　be　through　the　bush　in　five　minutes。〃

〃Come；　Ranald！　　Come　away；　you　can　talk　to　Don　any　time。　　Good
night；　Don。〃　　And　so　saying　she　headed　her　pony　toward　the　clearing
and　was　off　at　a　gallop；　and　Ranald；　shaking　his　head　at　his
friend；　ejaculated：

〃Man　alive！　what　do　you　think　of　that？〃　and　was　off　after　the　pony。

Together　they　entered　the　bush。　　The　road　was　well　beaten　and　the
horses　were　keen　to　go；　so　that　before　many　minutes　were　over　they
were　half　through　the　bush。　　Ranald's　spirits　rose　and　he　began　to
take　some　interest　in　his　companion's　observations　upon　the　beauty
of　the　lights　and　shadows　falling　across　their　path。

〃Look　at　that　very　dark　shadow　from　the　spruce　there；　Ranald；〃　she
cried；　pointing　to　a　deep；　black　turn　in　the　road。　　For　answer
there　came　from　behind　them　the　long；　mournful　hunting…cry　of　the
wolf。　　He　was　on　their　track。　　Immediately　it　was　answered　by　a
chorus　of　howls　from　the　bush　on　the　swamp　side；　but　still　far
away。　　There　was　no　need　of　command；　the　pony　sprang　forward　with　a
snort　and　the　colt　followed；　and　after　a　few　minutes'　running；
passed　her。

〃Whow…oo…oo…oo…ow〃　rose　the　long　cry　of　the　pursuer；　summoning
help；　and　drawing　nearer。

〃Wow…ee…wow；〃　came　the　shorter；　sharper　answer　from　the　swamp；　but
much　nearer　than　before　and　more　in　front。　　They　were　trying　to
head　off　their　prey。

Ranald　tugged　at　his　colt　till　he　got　him　back　with　the　pony。

〃It　is　a　good　road；〃　he　said；　quietly；　〃you　can　let　the　pony　go。　　I
will　follow　you。〃　　He　swung　in　behind　the　pony；　who　was　now　running
for　dear　life　and　snorting　with　terror　at　every　jump。

〃God　preserve　us！〃　said　Ranald　to　himself。　　He　had　caught　sight　of
a　dark　form　as　it　darted　thr